Category: Daily Guide Network

Chief Enterprise Officer of MTN Ghana, Angela Mensah-Poku, says adaptability, not size, is now the real competitive advantage for businesses in a rapidly changing world.

Speaking at this year’s SMEGA Awards, she said entrepreneurship must translate into results at a time when markets shift overnight and technology reshapes entire industries.

‘In a world where markets shift overnight and technology reshapes entire industries, the real competitive advantage is no longer size. It’s adaptability. It’s the willingness to learn, unlearn, and reinvent yourselves,’ she said.

Mrs. Mensah-Poku said MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary makes this year’s celebration more significant. ‘MTN Ghana is celebrating 30 years and our SMEs have driven innovation, created jobs, and strengthened communities across Ghana. Our story and your stories have never been separate,’ she stated.

Highlighting MTN’s interventions, she said the SME Accelerate programme took clinics to six regions this year, equipping over 1,000 entrepreneurs with practical skills in digital adoption, financial management and business resilience.

‘For the first time, we backed that training with capital. Our business pitch sessions awarded seed funding to nine promising entrepreneurs, turning ideas into ventures with real money behind them,’ she revealed.

‘This is why MTN partners with SMEGA, not to sponsor a ceremony, but to invest in what happens between the ceremonies – the training, the capital, the connectivity. This is where businesses have real impact. SMEGA gives Ghana’s best SMEs the stage, and we believe at MTN we work to make sure more of you are ready to stand on it,’ she added.

Mrs. Mensah-Poku added that MTN’s goal is a generation of Ghanaian businesses that can compete confidently, not only here but across Africa and the world

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Senior Manager for SME Sales, Business Partnerships, and Business Development said the programme included initiatives such as SME clinics, capacity building sessions and a mini MBA for entrepreneurs.

On the benefits of the awards, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq said the recognition alone provides significant exposure for the businesses. He said the awards are aimed at recognizing SMEs across various categories, including agribusiness and manufacturing, for their contribution to the national economy.

Some of the awardees include Koliko Wear Eco Enterprise, Queen GAF Enterprise, Extra Comfort Limited, Dressup College of Fashion Ghana, Ahodwo Frams Limited, Bubune Africa Limited, Yumzaa Women Association among others.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Ghana (CCIFG) on Saturday honoured six companies and business leaders for their outstanding achievements and contributions to business development at the 8th edition of its Gala Dinner and Awards.

Telecel Ghana received two awards including the CCIFG Sustainability and ESG Award and the CCIFG Digital Transformation and Innovation Excellence Award for 2026 held in Accra.

Other award recipients were CFAO Mobility Ghana, which received the Customer Service Excellence Award 2026; Nexans KabelMetal Ghana Limited, won the Product of the Year Award 2026 while Advans Savings and Loans Ghana Limited was named CCIFG Company of the Year.

Managing Director of FanMilk Ghana, Lionel Parent, received the CCIFG Executive/Business Leader of the Year 2026 award.

Some notable dignitaries present at the event include the French Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dime-Labille, IMF Resident Representative to Ghana, Dr. Adrian Alter, Presidential Advisor on the Economy and former Minister of Finance, Seth Tekper, President of CCI France Ghana (CCIFG), Guillaume Valence, Chief Executive of Meridian Port Services, Mohammed Samara and several other chief Executives of notable businesses across the country.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Ghana (CCIFG), Maxine Reindorf-Partey, said the awards provided an opportunity to highlight the strong economic relationship and partnerships between Ghana and France while recognising businesses and individuals contributing to the growth of both economies.

She expressed appreciation to the participants and sponsors and said she hoped the awards would continue to motivate businesses, particularly those in the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME’s) sector.

Madam Reindorf-Partey said the relationship between Ghana and France had significant potential to drive foreign direct investment into Ghana, noting that about 60 French companies currently operated in the country across sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness and pharmaceuticals.

She said French businesses had made a significant contribution to Ghana’s economy, with an investment estimated at about pound 2.5 billion over a five-year period, while creating about 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.

She said the Chamber would continue to serve as a platform for businesses from both countries by providing information, facilitating networking and helping companies navigate the country’s business and regulatory environment.

According to her, the CCIFG also sought to provide regular tax and regulatory updates and create opportunities for businesses to communicate their concerns, challenges and bottlenecks to government and other relevant stakeholders.

Reindorf-Partey further urged Ghanaian businesses to look beyond language differences and explore opportunities in France, including potential joint ventures with French companies adding that the perceived language barrier should not discourage Ghanaian companies from exploring the French market.

She said the Chamber would continue to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Ghana and France by bringing businesses, investors, institutions and leaders together to collaborate and create opportunities.

Reindorf-Partey described the award winners and nominees as examples of ambition, resilience, innovation and leadership, noting that their achievements demonstrated the value of partnerships in creating opportunities and promoting economic growth calling for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors and urged stakeholders to turn business relationships into investments and economic opportunities.

‘Let us turn ideas into investments, let us turn connections into opportunities, and let us continue writing a story of France and Ghana that is defined by shared prosperity, innovation and excellence,’ she said.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Ghana (CCIFG) was established in Accra in May 2014 and is a member of the CCI France International network of 125 French Chambers of Commerce and Industry operating in 98 countries.

The chamber aims at supporting the development of French and Ghanaian businesses by facilitating trade, investment, financial exchanges and networking between the two countries.

Teacher unions and the government are set to return to the negotiating table today, October 7, in a renewed attempt to resolve the issues behind the ongoing nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teachers.

Yesterday’s negotiations involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the teacher unions ended without an agreement, leaving the industrial action in force.

Today’s meeting is expected to be a crucial engagement, with the unions pushing government to provide firm timelines for resolving outstanding financial obligations owed to teachers.

At the centre of the discussions is the processing of outstanding data for teachers who have been promoted.

The process is required to facilitate the payment of promotion arrears owed to affected teachers.

Speaking to the media after Tuesday’s meeting, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah, urged teachers to remain resolute as the unions await concrete commitments from government.

According to him, the unions want clarity on when the outstanding processes will be completed and when teachers affected by the delays can expect their payments.

The latest negotiations form part of broader efforts to end the strike and restore teaching and learning in public pre-tertiary schools across the country.

Standoff

The teacher unions have rejected a plea by the government to call off their strike, insisting that they will not return to the classroom until concrete steps are taken to address their outstanding demands, including the payment of promotion arrears.

The unions, made up of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), said they have heard enough assurances from the government and will now want evidence of action before reconsidering their decision to remain on strike.

The decision followed a meeting between the leadership of the teacher unions and the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and other government officials yesterday.

The government had outlined measures aimed at addressing some of the concerns raised by the striking unions.

This included a meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission yesterday to engage them on their collective agreement and conditions of service.

The Ministry also said a committee chaired by the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations had been established to validate data relating to the government’s commitment to implement a 20 percent deprived-area allowance for teachers, effective January 2027.

In addition, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been directed to submit data on promoted teachers to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department by the end of this week, the statement added.

The unions have maintained that outstanding promotion arrears and other issues relating to teachers’ conditions of service must be addressed with clear measures and timelines before they will consider suspending the strike.

The industrial action has disrupted academic activities in public pre-tertiary schools nationwide, putting pressure on the government and education authorities to find a resolution.

Government, for its part, has said it remains committed to addressing the teachers’ concerns and has continued to engage the unions through the FWSC and the GES.

Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has previously appealed to the striking teachers to return to the classroom, assuring them that government is committed to reaching an amicable settlement.

Ghana’s Black Starlets have completed a journey of more than 20 hours by road to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ahead of the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship, which kicks off on Saturday, October 10.

The team travelled from Accra to Bolgatanga, where they spent four days training at the Winkogo Technical Centre before continuing their journey by bus to Ouagadougou on Tuesday.

The lengthy trip comes just days after the Starlets returned from Morocco, where they played two friendly matches against the hosts as part of their preparations for the tournament.

Ghana won the first game 2-0 before Morocco secured a 2-1 victory in the second match with the final kick of the game.

The Starlets have been drawn in Group B alongside Togo, Benin and hosts Burkina Faso, with the top two teams qualifying for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The long road journey has raised questions about the logistics and welfare of the young players, particularly amid security challenges in parts of the wider Sahel region.

However, there is no indication that the team encountered any security incident during the journey, while details of the specific security arrangements for the delegation have not been made public.

The NFL has suspended two officials for instances of unprofessional conduct towards players.

Line judge Jeff Seeman has been suspended for two games, while referee Adrian Hill has received a one-game suspension following separate incidents on Sunday.

Seeman was caught on camera appearing to curse at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride during his side’s 36-24 defeat by the New York Giants.

McBride had complained to Seeman after feeling he was interfered with by Giants cornerback Dru Phillips on an incomplete pass from Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Seeman appeared to respond by shouting a profanity at the player.

‘It’s unfortunate it happened. It can’t happen obviously,’ Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said.

Hill’s incident involved Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson during their 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Wilson was pushed into Hill by Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II after a play had been stopped because of a Minnesota penalty. As Wilson tried to help the official up, Hill stood up and pointed and shouted at him to move away.

‘That was funny, honestly,’ Wilson said afterwards. ‘I ended up apologising to him and explained the situation. He was cool about it.’

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons moved to second in the NFC South after beating the New Orleans Saints 45-24 on Monday night.

Bijan Robinson scored an early touchdown following a 53-yard run, while Brian Robinson Jr. also scored three times as the Falcons secured consecutive victories after losing their opening two games.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has finally returned monies, mobile phones and laptops seized from the former Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, following multiple protests mounted by their lawyers.

The released items include sums of £6,700, GHS2,750, two (2) laptop computers and at least six mobile phones seized from the couple and their driver.

Mr. Aludiba and Madam Wuni are on trial for allegedly stealing and causing financial loss to the state totalling GHS62.6 million.

The two have pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, stealing, using public office for profit, intentional dissipation of public funds and money laundering.

EOCO had seized multiple gadgets from the couple and their driver following their arrest in 2025.

The monies, a laptop and two mobile phones were seized on July 4, 2026, when Mr. Aludiba was arrested at the Accra International Airport, when he tried to travel to the United Kingdom for medical reasons.

He was detained for four (4) days and prevented from travelling abroad although a court had granted him permission to do so.

Initial Order

The court had previously ordered EOCO to release the gadgets to the couple and their driver following an application by their lawyers.

But that order fell on deaf ears as the Office failed to release the items to the accused and their driver.

New Application

Former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for Aludiba, had filed another application asking the court to order the prosecution to release the gadgets to the accused to aid them in preparing their defence.

This resulted in the court adjourning the trial to today, thereby preventing the Attorney General from calling his first witness in the trial.

‘The phones contain information necessary for the conduct of the trial and related to matters that are central to the subject matter of the proceedings. We need them to enable the first accused (Mr. Aludiba) prepare adequately for his defence, including raising objections to documents to be tendered by the prosecution, in accordance with Article 19(2)(e) and (g) of the 1992 Constitution,’ Mr. Dame said on September 29.

He added that ‘it cannot be doubted as set out in the relevant provision that an accused person ought to be afforded adequate time and facilities for the preparations of his defence.’

Augustines Obour, counsel for Madam Wuni, also informed the court that his client had requested the release of her electronic gadgets, which he said, would form the basis of his defence.

Esi Dentaa Yankah, a Principal State Attorney, had argued that the pendency of the application should not hinder the prosecution from commencing its case, noting that the defence will have adequate time to cross-examine the witness.

The trial judge, Justice Francis Achibonga, said Mr. Aludiba may need the alleged seized phones to enable him prepare adequately for his defence, pointing out that an accused person has right to object to any evidence being offered by the prosecution.

He subsequently adjourned the case to today to hear the application asking the court to order EOCO to release the monies and the gadgets.

However, EOCO on Monday, October 5, 2026, released the items, the subject matter of the motion filed by Mr. Dame and scheduled to be determined today.

Earlier Petition

Mr. Dame had earlier petitioned the Executive Director of EOCO, Raymond Archer and the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to return his clients property which had been ‘unlawfully retained’ without legal justification.

‘On July 9, 2026, when my client reported to EOCO to collect his items, he was handed an empty purse, a wristwatch and his boarding pass. The investigating officer, Frank Cromwell, reportedly informed him that he had no authorisation to release the remaining items, which included two mobile phones and three separate envelopes containing £5,000, £1,700, and GHS2,750 respectively,’ part of the petitions read.

Mr. Dame further explained that the cash in question consisted of borrowed funds meant strictly for travel and medical expenses and was not drawn from any allegedly frozen bank account.

The defence team further accused EOCO officials of invading their client’s right to privacy as guaranteed under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution.

The lawyers claimed that the data on Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s two seized mobile phones was accessed without judicial authorisation on two separate occasions-specifically on July 6, 2026 and July 7, 2026, while he was still held in state custody.

The letter also noted that EOCO’s continuous retention of Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s passport violates a High Court order dated June 29, 2026.

It is tempting to feel bad for the five-member committee tasked with finding Ghana’s next coach.

After all, they have not done anything wrong. Nor do they have any questionable past that should justify the dismissiveness.

Take, for instance, Stephen Appiah. Possibly the greatest captain Ghana has ever produced. He is Ghana’s ‘Mr. Do no wrong’ and for good reason. Appiah was captain of a golden generation that delivered Ghana’s first World Cup qualification.

Beyond captaining the Black Stars at two World Cups, Appiah has also served as Team Manager and vice chair of the Black Stars Management Committee.

Appiah understands the team culture better than most and would know the kind of character required to coach this team.

Then there is another former player: Tony Baffoe. Baffoe was once Deputy General Secretary at CAF from November 2017 to June 2021.

Since then, he has been preoccupied with running the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana.

Fred Pappoe needs no introduction either. In an administrative career spanning decades, Pappoe has served in various roles at the GFA, including as Vice President.

The youngest and perhaps the most exciting name is Faisal Chibsah. Faisal Chibsah, brother of former player Yusif Alhasan Chibsah, is a High Performance Specialist

He first gained the country’s attention when he was disqualified from the contest for the Technical Director role at the GFA for the crime of being ‘too young.’

Since then, Faisal has taken his young but smart, innovative self to small and ignorant entities like FIFA, which handed him the role of High Performance Expert.

Agbesi Dzakpasu is also no stranger to the GFA. He has served as the GFA’s prosecutor and a member of the Legal and Appeals Committees.

So, in fairness, the committee has a good mix of experienced administrators, institutional knowledge, understanding of Black Stars culture, and, I dare say, in Chibsah, someone not compromised by association with the old, dysfunctional culture that has led us here.

More to the point, whoever they appoint, if they are actually good at what they do and are the right fit for the profile of squad Ghana currently has, should be able to get results.

At least some short-term success.

But the brutal truth is that this is not just about the competence of the committee and its members.

It is simply about the environment, the product of which their decision will be working in, and the conveyor belt that feeds the Black Stars.

There are hardly any coincidences in life, and the simultaneous malaise of Ghana’s national teams reflects that more than anything else.

There is a direct relationship between the fortunes of the Black Starlets (U-17), Black Satellites (U-20), and the Black Stars.

Ghana’s golden era of 2005 to 2017 was founded on strong youth teams.

When Ghana finished as runners-up at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Argentina, the Black Stars benefited. John Paintsil, Addoquaye Pappoe, John Mensah, Michael Essien, Derek Boateng, and Sulley Muntari would later form the nucleus (the others being Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston) of the team that qualified Ghana for its first senior World Cup in 2006.

Six years later, another Under-20 success, this time as tournament winners in Egypt, would seal Ghana’s return as a proper heavyweight on the continent.

Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Jonathan Mensah, Agyemang Badu, Rabiu Mohammed, Andre Ayew, Dominic Adiyiah and Rabiu Mohammed were instant hits for Ghana.

That is how, even with injury depriving Ghana of Essien, Appiah, Laryea Kingston, and Sulley Muntari, Ghana still qualified for a first AFCON final in eighteen years, qualified for the World Cup for a second consecutive time, and were a spot kick from making the semi-final of the World Cup.

Three years later, another Under-20 team, while not as successful, produced Baba Rahman, Ebenezer Ofori, Frank Acheampong, and Richmond Boakye Yiadom, who have had varying degrees of successful international careers.

In those three Under-20 cycles from 2001 to 20013, Ghana were world champions in 2009, runners-up in 2001 and 2013, and African champions in 2009.

That directly translated into Black Stars’ successes. Apart from the already stated World Cup exploits, Ghana made the semi-finals of six consecutive AFCON tournaments and finished second twice.

Since then, the only successful spell for Ghana at any level was the U-20 AFCON success in 2021.

Ghana has failed to qualify for major tournaments, not just at U-20 level, but at U-17 and even U-23 levels.

In total, Ghana has failed to qualify for eight men’s (mostly youth) tournaments.

2020 Olympics

2023 U-17 AFCON

2023 U-20 AFCON

2023 U-20 World Cup

2024 Olympics Men’s Football

2025 U-17 AFCON

2025 U-20 World Cup

2025 AFCON

2025 CHAN

The conveyor belt has stopped, and the national team has consequently grieved.

Ghana has since suffered a round-of-16 exit at AFCON 2019, consecutive group-stage exits at AFCON 2021 and AFCON 23, while failing to qualify for the last tournament.

Curiously, the same allegations of interference in player selections at youth levels exist at senior level, too.

Forget that for a moment and look at the coaching turnover.

Since assuming office, Kurt Okraku’s administration has hired four coaches for the Black Satellites. That means each coach gets less than two years on the job before they get sacked.

The situation is significantly worse with the Black Starlets, where nine coaches have been hired and fired in seven years.

It is eerily similar to the Black Stars; seven coaches in seven years.

Poor coaching appointments.

Poor squad selections, resulting in poor teams.

The result is that the best players only play for Ghana when they are already at the senior level, with no prior experience of playing together in a national team, and are completely alien to the team culture and character required.

It is also why Ghana shops around the globe for anyone who can pronounce ”jollof” to play for Ghana.

So it does not matter who picks the poisoned chalice that is the Black Stars coaching job.

If the GFA is not deliberate about a well-thought-through, properly resourced, and credible youth program similar to what served Ghana well, any other measure will be a complete waste of time and resources.

Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has opened up about the realities of her marriage to Captain Matthew Ekeinde, saying lasting relationships require more than romantic feelings.

Speaking on the Chude Jideonwo Podcast, the actress admitted that there are moments when she questions her choice of husband, but said her commitment to the marriage is rooted in faith, shared values, and a conscious decision to remain together.

‘There are times when I wake up and I’m like, somebody needs to remind me why I chose this guy again. Because right now I can’t remember,’ she said.

Omotola, who has been married since 1996, said she does not expect love in marriage to remain constant.

‘I’m not with him because I love him all the time. I’m with him because I choose love, because God has given me a mandate to be by his side, and vice versa,’ she said.

The mother of four said she turns to God for guidance when she feels disconnected from her husband, rather than allowing temporary emotions to determine the future of their relationship.

She also identified mutual respect and personal space as key to sustaining their marriage, stressing that both partners must be allowed to maintain their individuality.

Omotola cautioned couples against expecting marriage to be ‘lovey-dovey’ at all times, urging them to prioritise honesty, communication, and a strong value system.

‘Don’t think that when you’re married to someone, it’s always going to be lovey-dovey. That’s not why I got married to him,’ she said.

Omotola and Captain Ekeinde have four children and are among Nollywood’s longest-standing celebrity couples.

FORMER PRESIDENT Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has congratulated the newly enstooled Asantehemaa, Nana Yaa Akyaa II.

Beaming with broad smiles, he also wished the new Queen long life, sound health and successful reign as she embarks on her reign as the 15th Asantehemaa.

Speaking at the Manhyia Palace, Nana Akufo-Addo, who is from the Oyoko clan, said he was outside the country when Nana Yaa Akyaa II was enstooled as Asantehemaa.

He said he knows traditional affairs and so he is aware that the Asantehemaa is the head of all the women in the Oyoko clan, hence the need for him to come and pay homage to her.

‘In Akyem, where I hail from, I have been taught that the Asantehemaa is the head of all women in the Oyoko clan, and so I need to respectfully pay my homage to her,’ he noted.

Nana Akufo-Addo also stated that it’s his wish and prayers that during the reign of Nana Yaa Akyaa II, Asanteman and Ghana in general, will experience massive transformation.

Joining the former president to the Manhyia Palace included the former Chief of Staff at the Presidency during the NPP administration, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and others.

Afrobeats star King Promise says he is bringing former Chelsea captain John Terry and other club legends to Ghana for the music video of his Chelsea collaboration song, ‘Can’t Tame Us’.

The singer said the idea was part of his broader vision to make the project more meaningful to Chelsea’s large fan base in Ghana and across Africa.

Speaking on Hitz FM, King Promise explained that the Chelsea project began taking shape around April or May while he was in Los Angeles working on his album.

He said he dedicated one studio session to creating the song after discussions about his partnership with the English Premier League club.

According to him, he wanted the accompanying video to go beyond the usual football-themed production by bringing some of Chelsea’s iconic former players to Ghana.

‘I wanted to bring John Terry and some of the Chelsea legends to Ghana for the video,’ he explained.

However, the singer said the idea could not be executed because projects involving a major football club require several levels of planning and approval.

King Promise noted that although some ideas may seem straightforward, working with a global brand like Chelsea involves several considerations.

Despite that, he insisted on having Ghana play a role in the project, arguing that the club has a massive following on the continent.

He said he pushed for some of the filming to take place in Ghana to give the project an African identity and connect Chelsea’s international campaign with its supporters in the country.

Although the plan did not materialise this time, King Promise believes there could be opportunities to bring the idea to life in the future.

He also revealed that discussions with former Chelsea figures have taken place, suggesting that his partnership with the club could lead to further collaborations involving its legendary players.